Maria Antonia "Toni" Verdelotti, 71, recent widow of Anthony "Tony" Verdelotti, passed away two months after her husband of 52 years, on Monday, December 6th, 2021.  Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she had been a resident of Havelock, NC for over 25 years, but was recently staying with her family in Newport News after the loss of her husband.

Toni spent over half of her life travelling the world courtesy of the US military. Her father served in the United States Army while her husband served in the United States Air Force. Toni graduated from high school in Tacoma Washington where she met and married the love of her life.  Toni and Tony had one child, Antonio, while stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The trio travelled the country, stationed as far north as Alaska, before retiring to the Hampton Roads area.  While living in Yorktown, Toni settled into a civil service position with the commissary at Langley Air Force Base where she held many roles prior to moving to Havelock, NC where she continued to work at the commissary at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point until her retirement.

In her spare time, Toni enjoyed cross-stitching, knitting, sewing, and playing classic desktop computer games like Lemmings and Bejeweled. Toni and Tony spent many quiet evenings holding hands on the couch and watching TV together. When her grandchildren were small and came to visit, she would spend hours playing and doing crafts with them. She also loved spending time on the phone with her siblings in Ohio. She will be forever remembered for her feisty personality, her independent spirit, and her generous heart.  And also, her homemade pizza and chili that she loved to cook for her family.

Maria was preceded in death by her father Antonio Torres, her mother Lou Marie Puckett, and brother Joseph Torres.  She is survived by her son, Antonio "Tony" D. Verdelotti (Crystal); granddaughters, Gabriella V. Bond (Dylan) and Gianna M. Verdelotti; and brothers and sisters, Chickie M. Johnston, Cyndi Reiners, Daniel Torres, Paul Torres, and Melissa Ellington (Mike) and a host nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A service to celebrate Maria's life will be 1:00 PM Monday, December 20, 2021, at Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions, 2609 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton, by Rev. Eric J. Vaudt.  Interment will be in Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery on Tuesday.